WEBVTT - No Condemnation-Part 1 0:00:00.590 --> 0:00:03.800 Today on Bold Steps, pastor Mark Jobe begins a brand 0:00:03.800 --> 0:00:07.070 new series about overcoming our biggest problem. 0:00:07.310 --> 0:00:11.990 You and I have a problem, a mega problem. It's 0:00:11.990 --> 0:00:16.670 the problem that scripture calls a sin problem. Romans chapter 0:00:16.670 --> 0:00:19.820 one through seven is all about how fallen we are, 0:00:19.820 --> 0:00:23.390 how broken we are, how condemned we are, how separated 0:00:23.390 --> 0:00:25.910 we are from God. And it would be a depressing 0:00:25.910 --> 0:00:28.130 book if there were not a chapter eight. 0:00:40.130 --> 0:00:43.700 And welcome to Bold Steps with pastor Mark Jobe. Mark 0:00:43.700 --> 0:00:46.550 is president of Moody Bible Institute and senior pastor of 0:00:46.550 --> 0:00:49.640 New Life Community Church in Chicago. Well, Mark, today we're 0:00:49.640 --> 0:00:52.250 beginning this short series you've titled overcome. And you're going 0:00:52.250 --> 0:00:54.650 to start by talking about how we need to understand 0:00:54.650 --> 0:00:58.010 what condemnation is and why it's such an important factor 0:00:58.010 --> 0:00:59.240 in our spiritual lives. 0:00:59.240 --> 0:01:03.270 Yeah, this is going to be such a great series. 0:01:03.270 --> 0:01:07.020 You know, the book of Romans is thick with theology 0:01:07.230 --> 0:01:10.740 but also practical application. And so get ready for this. 0:01:10.770 --> 0:01:14.190 All right. The message no condemnation. And Mark, you're going 0:01:14.220 --> 0:01:17.009 to begin with a lesson, a story about a traffic 0:01:17.040 --> 0:01:20.610 ticket and how your wife Dee was working to kind 0:01:20.610 --> 0:01:22.740 of find out who who was responsible. 0:01:23.550 --> 0:01:25.890 Well, I don't know about your house, Wayne, but, you know, 0:01:25.920 --> 0:01:31.919 we sometimes, uh, share cars. And so when a traffic 0:01:31.950 --> 0:01:34.649 ticket comes in, everybody's trying to figure out who was 0:01:34.650 --> 0:01:38.880 driving the car when we got that sort of photo 0:01:38.880 --> 0:01:39.660 speeding ticket. 0:01:39.690 --> 0:01:42.300 I've been in that exact situation. Let's get started with 0:01:42.300 --> 0:01:43.260 the message now. 0:01:44.970 --> 0:01:46.709 She lifted. 0:01:46.709 --> 0:01:47.039 Up. 0:01:47.040 --> 0:01:47.190 The. 0:01:47.190 --> 0:01:49.920 Little letter that was in the mail, and she said, 0:01:49.920 --> 0:01:55.290 someone got a ticket and. 0:01:55.290 --> 0:01:55.740 She looked. 0:01:55.740 --> 0:01:58.560 At me. My boys. 0:01:58.560 --> 0:01:59.460 Were in the kitchen. 0:01:59.460 --> 0:02:01.820 While she said it, and they said, oh, dad, you 0:02:01.820 --> 0:02:05.870 got another ticket? Hey, mom, dad got a ticket? What 0:02:05.870 --> 0:02:09.109 was it for this time? And she looked at the 0:02:09.139 --> 0:02:13.639 at the fine on the ticket for $100 for going 0:02:13.639 --> 0:02:18.830 through a a a stoplight. And I said, whoa, whoa, 0:02:18.860 --> 0:02:21.920 I don't remember that. And yeah, it was you. And 0:02:21.919 --> 0:02:24.980 she said, this happened on a Friday. You were the 0:02:24.980 --> 0:02:28.280 one driving the car on a Friday. This is. I 0:02:28.280 --> 0:02:30.380 can't believe you got a ticket. And all the boys 0:02:30.380 --> 0:02:33.920 were saying, dad, you got another ticket? I can't believe you. 0:02:33.950 --> 0:02:36.230 You got a ticket? And I said, I don't think 0:02:36.230 --> 0:02:39.200 I was driving the car. I said, I think, Josiah, 0:02:39.230 --> 0:02:41.030 you were driving the car. He says, no, dad, don't 0:02:41.060 --> 0:02:44.060 try to pin it on me. You were driving the car. 0:02:44.060 --> 0:02:46.460 And then I says, no, I don't remember that, honey, 0:02:46.460 --> 0:02:50.030 I think you are. And he was like, no, take responsibility. 0:02:50.060 --> 0:02:53.330 You are guilty for this ticket. Maybe it was you. 0:02:53.330 --> 0:02:55.340 Grant and Grant. Dad, dad, don't try to blame me. 0:02:55.340 --> 0:02:57.230 You're the one that always gets the tickets. And we 0:02:57.230 --> 0:02:59.810 were going round and round. I said, give me that ticket. 0:03:00.050 --> 0:03:02.550 So I got that ticket and I looked at the 0:03:02.550 --> 0:03:05.549 date on the ticket and my wife had misread it. 0:03:06.150 --> 0:03:08.610 And I looked at the time on the ticket. It 0:03:08.610 --> 0:03:14.940 was a Sunday morning at 10:00. I said, hello. I 0:03:14.940 --> 0:03:24.149 got an alibi, a big alibi. I was preaching. Out 0:03:24.150 --> 0:03:27.390 of the side of my eye, I saw my son Grant, 0:03:27.419 --> 0:03:30.090 kind of walking out of the kitchen like this. Trying to. 0:03:30.120 --> 0:03:32.520 Trying to get it. Grant, where are you going? It's 0:03:32.520 --> 0:03:36.450 like 10:00 Sunday morning. You were driving grandpa to church. 0:03:36.450 --> 0:03:41.100 This is your ticket. And he was like, oh, my ticket. Okay. 0:03:41.130 --> 0:03:45.780 And you know what I said, son? It's $100. You're 0:03:45.780 --> 0:03:49.020 paying this ticket. And suddenly when he thought we were paying, 0:03:49.050 --> 0:03:50.400 it was no big deal when he knew he was 0:03:50.400 --> 0:03:51.810 paying it. It became a big deal. How many of 0:03:51.810 --> 0:03:54.270 you parents have experienced that? Once in a while. You know, 0:03:54.300 --> 0:03:57.360 when you pay it, it's a big deal. Because he 0:03:57.390 --> 0:04:01.940 finally realized I have to pay the penalty for what 0:04:01.940 --> 0:04:08.750 I did wrong. Stay with me now. You see, we 0:04:08.750 --> 0:04:11.150 had the ticket and the ticket was in the mail. 0:04:11.150 --> 0:04:15.530 We had done wrong. But until my son realised that 0:04:15.530 --> 0:04:19.790 it was his ticket, until he realised that he was guilty. 0:04:19.820 --> 0:04:22.760 Until he realised that he had to pay the fine. 0:04:22.760 --> 0:04:27.320 It wasn't a big deal. He was condemned. He was guilty. 0:04:27.350 --> 0:04:30.290 It was his fault. But he didn't even know it. 0:04:31.250 --> 0:04:35.870 Some of you, when we talk about condemnation today, it's 0:04:35.870 --> 0:04:39.530 not a topic that you're that interested in. If I 0:04:39.529 --> 0:04:42.500 were to talk about being free from debt, you would say, hey, 0:04:42.500 --> 0:04:44.960 I want to learn about that. If I want to 0:04:44.960 --> 0:04:48.200 talk about being free from depression, you would say, yeah, 0:04:48.200 --> 0:04:51.380 I struggle with that sometimes. If I were to talk 0:04:51.410 --> 0:04:54.560 about being free from a bad marriage, you'd say, come on, 0:04:54.589 --> 0:04:57.109 talk to me now. If I were to talk to 0:04:57.140 --> 0:04:59.299 you about being free from worry, you would say, I 0:04:59.300 --> 0:05:01.469 struggle with that all the time. If I were to 0:05:01.500 --> 0:05:04.110 talk to you about being free from stress, you would say, hey, 0:05:04.110 --> 0:05:07.530 I need to hear this message really loud and clear. 0:05:07.529 --> 0:05:11.490 But to be free from condemnation, some of you are like, 0:05:11.550 --> 0:05:16.320 I don't even know what that means. But I'm convinced 0:05:16.320 --> 0:05:22.830 that when you start to understand what it means to 0:05:22.830 --> 0:05:26.670 be free from condemnation and start to live in it, 0:05:26.970 --> 0:05:34.380 it will set you free in a powerful, compelling, outstanding 0:05:34.380 --> 0:05:38.310 supernatural way that you will be able to determine. There 0:05:38.310 --> 0:05:42.659 was a before and there was an after. I understood 0:05:42.660 --> 0:05:45.780 that I'm free from condemnation. This will be a life 0:05:45.810 --> 0:05:49.320 changing message for some of you that are living under 0:05:49.320 --> 0:05:55.800 this dark cloud of continual, perpetual undercurrent of condemnation in 0:05:55.800 --> 0:06:02.420 your life. And that's exactly how Romans Chapter eight starts with, 0:06:02.690 --> 0:06:05.690 but he starts with Romans chapter eight. There's no there's 0:06:05.690 --> 0:06:09.140 therefore no condemnation. But he uses the first seven chapters 0:06:09.140 --> 0:06:13.969 of Romans to say, we are condemned. You see, you 0:06:13.970 --> 0:06:16.430 don't not really understand the power of being free from 0:06:16.430 --> 0:06:19.909 condemnation until you understand that you are condemned. You don't 0:06:19.910 --> 0:06:21.830 care about a ticket until you have to pay it, 0:06:21.830 --> 0:06:24.860 and you realize you're guilty. Some of you don't really 0:06:24.860 --> 0:06:28.039 care about condemnation because you're not. You don't understand how 0:06:28.040 --> 0:06:32.029 condemned we are. If you understood how condemned we are, 0:06:32.060 --> 0:06:35.690 you would be super excited to hear about what it 0:06:35.690 --> 0:06:40.970 means to live no condemnation. Romans chapter one through seven. 0:06:41.000 --> 0:06:45.560 The Apostle Paul spends a lot of time building a case, 0:06:45.589 --> 0:06:51.200 explaining how all of us, from the little old lady 0:06:51.230 --> 0:06:54.950 to the young boy, to the mother, to the grandparent, 0:06:54.950 --> 0:06:59.539 to the college age, how all of us are condemned 0:06:59.540 --> 0:07:04.529 by our sin before God. He explains that we've all 0:07:04.529 --> 0:07:07.529 fallen short of the glory of God, that there's not 0:07:07.560 --> 0:07:11.670 one of us that can stand right before God, that 0:07:11.670 --> 0:07:14.700 all our good works and all our attempts to be 0:07:14.700 --> 0:07:18.660 right before God have failed, that from the beginning, all 0:07:18.660 --> 0:07:22.440 the way from Adam. Until now we have lived with 0:07:22.440 --> 0:07:27.870 this cloud of condemnation, that that it started with Adam. 0:07:27.870 --> 0:07:31.410 God put us in a perfect world, right? And God 0:07:31.410 --> 0:07:36.240 didn't create you and I with sin. He created us sinless, 0:07:36.960 --> 0:07:41.520 created Adam and Eve, put him in the idyllic environment. 0:07:41.520 --> 0:07:43.710 But there came a point in a time where man 0:07:43.710 --> 0:07:46.890 and woman both decided to try to go their own way. 0:07:46.920 --> 0:07:50.760 Theologians call it the fall of man at that very 0:07:50.760 --> 0:07:55.020 moment when they sinned against God, their nature was changed. 0:07:55.020 --> 0:07:57.870 From then on, God kicked them out of the garden, 0:07:57.870 --> 0:08:00.119 not to punish them, but to separate them from the 0:08:00.120 --> 0:08:03.380 tree of life so that they would not live eternally. 0:08:03.380 --> 0:08:08.540 And from that moment on, every person born after Adam 0:08:08.540 --> 0:08:12.020 has inherited the seed of something. The seed of what? 0:08:12.020 --> 0:08:17.179 The seed of a sin nature. You and I were 0:08:17.180 --> 0:08:22.310 born with it. Every person in humanity that's been born 0:08:22.310 --> 0:08:25.790 was given the seed of a sin nature. What does 0:08:25.790 --> 0:08:29.000 that mean? That means that you were born with a proclivity, 0:08:29.000 --> 0:08:35.270 the inclination, the desire, the natural born tendency toward sin. 0:08:36.440 --> 0:08:38.420 You say, well, pastor, I've seen the little baby when 0:08:38.420 --> 0:08:41.270 they're born. They're so cute and they're so innocent. And 0:08:41.270 --> 0:08:48.320 they are until they turn two. You don't have to 0:08:48.320 --> 0:08:50.150 teach a baby how to be selfish. You don't have 0:08:50.150 --> 0:08:51.800 to teach a little two year old how to say 0:08:51.800 --> 0:08:54.170 mine and how to hit it. It's just like they 0:08:54.170 --> 0:08:58.190 know it. I mean, when my kids started turning two 0:08:58.220 --> 0:09:01.770 and 18 months and I saw that sin nature. I said, honey, 0:09:01.770 --> 0:09:05.189 that must come from your side of the family. Because, man, 0:09:05.190 --> 0:09:09.570 they just it's just natural for them to show sin. But, 0:09:09.570 --> 0:09:11.610 you know, it didn't come. It came from both sides 0:09:11.610 --> 0:09:14.250 of the family, came from me, the sin nature. There's 0:09:14.250 --> 0:09:17.459 only been one person since Adam and Eve that did 0:09:17.460 --> 0:09:21.660 not share the sin nature because he was born of 0:09:21.660 --> 0:09:24.900 a virgin, not the seed of man. The reason that 0:09:24.900 --> 0:09:27.840 Jesus Christ had to be born of a virgin was 0:09:27.840 --> 0:09:30.270 so that he would not have the sin nature inside 0:09:30.270 --> 0:09:33.270 of him. And so Jesus was born not from the 0:09:33.270 --> 0:09:36.780 seed of man, but only a woman, so that the 0:09:36.780 --> 0:09:39.420 sin nature would not be passed down to him. And 0:09:39.420 --> 0:09:42.930 the Bible calls him the second Adam. The first Adam 0:09:42.929 --> 0:09:46.110 was created without a sin nature. And the second Adam 0:09:46.110 --> 0:09:51.570 is Jesus was born without a sin nature. You and 0:09:51.570 --> 0:09:57.360 I have a problem, a mega problem. It's the problem 0:09:57.390 --> 0:10:02.060 of brokenness. It's the problem of imperfection. It's the problem 0:10:02.059 --> 0:10:06.770 that Scripture calls a sin. Problem. And that very sin 0:10:06.770 --> 0:10:11.120 condemns us before a holy God. And so Romans chapter 0:10:11.120 --> 0:10:14.510 one through seven is all about how fallen we are, 0:10:14.510 --> 0:10:18.350 how broken we are, how condemned we are, how separated 0:10:18.350 --> 0:10:21.050 we are from God. And it would be a depressing 0:10:21.050 --> 0:10:26.030 book if there were not a chapter eight. And chapter 0:10:26.179 --> 0:10:28.280 eight tells us, yeah, you got a ticket? Yeah. You 0:10:28.280 --> 0:10:31.370 got to pay a fine. Yeah, you're guilty. But guess what? 0:10:32.179 --> 0:10:37.760 There is someone that's decided to pay that fine for you. 0:10:38.809 --> 0:10:42.710 His name is Jesus. And so the apostle Paul starts 0:10:42.710 --> 0:10:45.950 this entire chapter. I'm going to begin reading in verse 0:10:45.950 --> 0:10:50.360 one of chapter eight. It says, therefore, and every time 0:10:50.360 --> 0:10:52.670 you see the word therefore, you have to ask yourself, 0:10:52.670 --> 0:10:57.080 what is it? Therefore, it means that it is a 0:10:57.080 --> 0:11:03.300 bridge between two thoughts. A Romans chapter eight is bridging 0:11:03.300 --> 0:11:06.270 the thoughts from Romans chapter seven that tells us how 0:11:06.270 --> 0:11:11.400 condemned we are. And it says, therefore there is now, 0:11:11.400 --> 0:11:16.830 now present. Here, this time, there is now, here it goes. 0:11:16.830 --> 0:11:23.460 This is a big one. It's powerful. No condemnation. Say 0:11:23.460 --> 0:11:28.620 it out loud. No condemnation. There is therefore now no 0:11:28.620 --> 0:11:33.930 condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Because through 0:11:33.929 --> 0:11:36.660 Christ Jesus, the law of the sin who gives life 0:11:36.660 --> 0:11:38.429 has set you free from the law of sin and 0:11:38.429 --> 0:11:42.090 death for what the law was powerless to do because 0:11:42.120 --> 0:11:46.050 of its weakness by the flesh. God did by sending 0:11:46.050 --> 0:11:48.300 His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be 0:11:48.300 --> 0:11:53.220 a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 0:11:53.220 --> 0:11:56.550 in order that the righteous requirements of the law may 0:11:56.580 --> 0:12:00.060 be fully met in us who do not live according 0:12:00.110 --> 0:12:04.040 to the flesh, but according to the spirit. If you're 0:12:04.040 --> 0:12:06.859 taking notes this morning, I want you to write this down. 0:12:08.090 --> 0:12:10.730 I want you to write. This is what it means 0:12:10.730 --> 0:12:14.960 to live condemnation free. Number one, there is no condemnation. 0:12:14.960 --> 0:12:23.270 So you have been set free from the law. Let 0:12:23.300 --> 0:12:28.130 me explain. First of all, what condemnation is. The word 0:12:28.130 --> 0:12:32.210 condemnation is a legal term. It's a term that's used 0:12:32.210 --> 0:12:37.429 in court. We've heard it in a sentencing at times 0:12:37.429 --> 0:12:41.660 where we say the judge condemned that person to ten 0:12:41.660 --> 0:12:46.370 years in prison. It means that the person was found guilty, 0:12:46.400 --> 0:12:49.550 that they deserve punishment and that they have to fulfill 0:12:49.550 --> 0:12:53.990 their punishment. They're found guilty. That's condemnation. 0:12:59.000 --> 0:13:01.350 So very helpful. We'll get to the final part of 0:13:01.350 --> 0:13:04.020 today's message in just a moment. You're listening to Bold 0:13:04.020 --> 0:13:06.000 Steps with pastor Mark Jobe, and we want to take 0:13:06.000 --> 0:13:07.980 a moment to tell you how much we appreciate it 0:13:07.980 --> 0:13:09.660 when we get to hear from our listeners. 0:13:09.660 --> 0:13:13.500 Mark, we love hearing from our listeners. Wayne. And we 0:13:13.500 --> 0:13:18.420 get a steady stream of prayer requests, of testimonies of questions. 0:13:18.420 --> 0:13:21.330 And we love interacting. And and I want you to 0:13:21.360 --> 0:13:24.270 know that we read all those we pray for people 0:13:24.270 --> 0:13:27.540 on a regular basis. And so thank you for trusting 0:13:27.540 --> 0:13:30.960 us with your questions and your prayer requests. If you 0:13:30.960 --> 0:13:36.300 want to leave a testimony, a question of any kind, 0:13:36.300 --> 0:13:40.020 you can go to Bold steps.org and tell us what's 0:13:40.050 --> 0:13:42.330 on your heart. Or you can also give us a 0:13:42.330 --> 0:13:45.900 call and leave a message on a recorded line by 0:13:45.900 --> 0:13:56.280 dialing (312) 329-2011. Again, that's (312) 329-2011. 0:13:56.309 --> 0:13:58.020 And don't be shy about it. We'd love to hear 0:13:58.020 --> 0:13:58.290 from you. 0:13:58.320 --> 0:13:58.920 Absolutely. 0:13:58.950 --> 0:14:01.280 All right, here's a note we received from a listener. 0:14:01.309 --> 0:14:03.410 It says, my name is Anna. I've been listening to 0:14:03.410 --> 0:14:05.750 your program for the past six months. I serve as 0:14:05.750 --> 0:14:08.809 a music leader at a local church in North Carolina. 0:14:08.840 --> 0:14:11.660 Since being introduced to Bold steps via radio, I've been 0:14:11.660 --> 0:14:14.270 encouraged to the point of tears to continue to press 0:14:14.270 --> 0:14:17.600 on with what God has called me to within ministry. 0:14:17.630 --> 0:14:20.690 God is used in so timely, I might add, Pastor 0:14:20.690 --> 0:14:23.840 Mark's messages to speak to me. I'm thankful for this 0:14:23.840 --> 0:14:26.600 ministry and pray that it continues to bless those who hear. 0:14:26.630 --> 0:14:30.260 Keep spreading the good news, she says with all caps 0:14:30.260 --> 0:14:31.760 and exclamation points. 0:14:32.150 --> 0:14:36.650 Anna, thank you for encouraging us. And you know, I 0:14:36.650 --> 0:14:42.410 believe that the worship ministry is such a vital, important 0:14:42.410 --> 0:14:44.840 and may God give you the ability to continue to 0:14:44.870 --> 0:14:47.630 lead people into the presence of God. 0:14:47.660 --> 0:14:50.390 Once again, our website is Bold Steps. Org or give 0:14:50.390 --> 0:14:52.220 us a call and leave that message on a recorded 0:14:52.220 --> 0:14:57.920 line (312) 329-2011. All right, let's return to the final part 0:14:57.920 --> 0:15:01.540 of our message. No Condemnation. Here's pastor Mark. 0:15:06.670 --> 0:15:09.520 To be condemned before God means that we stand guilty. 0:15:09.550 --> 0:15:12.940 We're under God's judgment, and we need to suffer the 0:15:12.940 --> 0:15:18.460 punishment for violating God's law. The word condemnation in the 0:15:18.460 --> 0:15:21.160 Greek in this passage is found only two other places 0:15:21.160 --> 0:15:25.120 in Scripture, and it's a combination of two words that 0:15:25.120 --> 0:15:29.680 really means to judge down. When someone in those days 0:15:29.680 --> 0:15:33.430 would stand before the Roman emperor and the Roman emperor 0:15:33.430 --> 0:15:38.320 would declare whether that person was innocent or guilty, thumbs 0:15:38.320 --> 0:15:42.730 down meant you're guilty and you have to suffer the consequences. 0:15:42.760 --> 0:15:45.250 Go to the lions. Get your head chopped off. Go 0:15:45.250 --> 0:15:48.970 to the be burned at the stake, whatever the consequences were. 0:15:48.970 --> 0:15:54.580 But he would judge down. You are condemned. Romans eight 0:15:54.610 --> 0:15:59.900 starts with no condemnation, then goes to no separation. it 0:15:59.900 --> 0:16:02.300 ends with no separation. And in between is no defeat. 0:16:02.300 --> 0:16:03.770 So I want you to I want you to hear 0:16:03.770 --> 0:16:07.190 this because this is really, really important. The Apostle Paul 0:16:07.190 --> 0:16:13.640 says to us, there is therefore now no condemnation. If, though, 0:16:13.670 --> 0:16:16.130 for those of you that are in Christ Jesus. In fact, 0:16:16.130 --> 0:16:17.870 the word he uses in the Greek is. There is 0:16:17.870 --> 0:16:21.140 no hint of condemnation. In other words, there's not even 0:16:21.140 --> 0:16:25.010 a shadow of condemnation. There's not a trace of it. 0:16:25.040 --> 0:16:27.980 It's not like there's a little bit of condemnation. He's 0:16:27.980 --> 0:16:31.910 not saying there's less condemnation. He says there is therefore 0:16:31.940 --> 0:16:41.840 no absolutely nothing extinct erased. There is no condemnation absolutely 0:16:41.870 --> 0:16:46.880 at all for those that find themselves in Christ Jesus. Now, 0:16:46.880 --> 0:16:49.730 if you understood that you would be shouting, you'd be 0:16:49.730 --> 0:16:57.860 rejoicing if you understood the powerful implications of that. What 0:16:57.860 --> 0:17:03.720 does that mean? Let me tell you what it means. Listen, practically, 0:17:03.720 --> 0:17:06.750 for us, if you're in Christ Jesus, there's not even 0:17:06.750 --> 0:17:09.840 a hint of condemnation. So it means five things. It 0:17:09.840 --> 0:17:18.090 means my past sins are not against me anymore. No 0:17:18.090 --> 0:17:20.879 condemnation means that no matter where I've been, what I've done, 0:17:20.910 --> 0:17:24.030 how long I did it, how deep it was, how 0:17:24.030 --> 0:17:28.949 devious and dark and broken that when there is no condemnation, 0:17:28.950 --> 0:17:32.070 it means that those sins can never, ever be held 0:17:32.070 --> 0:17:37.470 against me again, because there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. 0:17:39.090 --> 0:17:40.800 There are some of you that walked in this place, 0:17:40.800 --> 0:17:47.190 and you have condemnation. Every time the birth of that 0:17:47.190 --> 0:17:50.400 aborted child comes to your mind, you feel condemned. Oh, what? 0:17:50.430 --> 0:17:54.780 What did I do? Maybe you walked away from a 0:17:54.780 --> 0:17:58.860 family that really needed you. Maybe you were violent against 0:17:58.859 --> 0:18:06.680 someone in your life. Maybe you cheated, stole, connived or proud. 0:18:09.500 --> 0:18:14.570 Maybe you made your living as a former prostitute. I 0:18:14.570 --> 0:18:18.560 don't know your background. I don't know your story. But 0:18:18.560 --> 0:18:20.660 here's what I know. What the Word of God declares 0:18:20.660 --> 0:18:24.590 over you that regardless of where you've been, what you've done, 0:18:24.619 --> 0:18:27.859 how long you did it, that if you're in Christ Jesus, 0:18:27.859 --> 0:18:31.340 there's not a single hint of your past that can 0:18:31.340 --> 0:18:42.020 now be held against you? There is no condemnation. And 0:18:42.020 --> 0:18:44.240 not only can your past not be held against you, 0:18:44.240 --> 0:18:47.510 but it also means that your current struggles are not 0:18:47.510 --> 0:18:51.080 God's punishment. There are some of you that live with 0:18:51.080 --> 0:18:54.380 this thought that God is punishing me now for what 0:18:54.380 --> 0:18:57.890 happened in the past. But if there is no condemnation, 0:18:57.890 --> 0:19:01.600 then there is no Punishment. There can only be punishment 0:19:01.600 --> 0:19:08.170 based on condemnation. God does not punish his children that 0:19:08.170 --> 0:19:13.060 have been set free from condemnation. He may discipline, but 0:19:13.060 --> 0:19:19.090 discipline is corrective, leading towards change. Punishment is punitive, making 0:19:19.090 --> 0:19:22.510 us pay a price. There's a difference. If you are 0:19:22.510 --> 0:19:24.640 going through a hard time right now and you are 0:19:24.640 --> 0:19:27.310 a child of the living God, it is not based 0:19:27.310 --> 0:19:31.090 on the punishment of God leveled against you. There is 0:19:31.090 --> 0:19:34.659 no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus. And 0:19:34.660 --> 0:19:38.080 if there is no condemnation, we cannot be punished for 0:19:38.080 --> 0:19:42.160 things that do not condemn us. There is no condemnation there. 0:19:42.280 --> 0:19:45.010 Some of you need to grasp that. Know it, understand it, 0:19:45.040 --> 0:19:51.040 receive it. Number three, your future status is not in doubt. 0:19:51.070 --> 0:19:54.520 If there is no condemnation before God, then you know 0:19:54.520 --> 0:19:57.520 what your status is with. With God, there is no 0:19:57.520 --> 0:19:59.720 doubt of. Where do I stand before God? What will 0:19:59.720 --> 0:20:02.990 happen when I die? Am I accepted before God? What 0:20:02.990 --> 0:20:06.229 if I blow it right before I die? I'm in 0:20:06.230 --> 0:20:10.430 a car accident and I cuss right before I die. 0:20:10.460 --> 0:20:12.830 Then am I going to the wrong place? The Bible 0:20:12.830 --> 0:20:16.969 says there is therefore now not a hint of condemnation, 0:20:16.970 --> 0:20:21.140 not a string of condemnation. There is no condemnation to 0:20:21.170 --> 0:20:24.170 those that are in Christ Jesus, which means he gives 0:20:24.170 --> 0:20:28.580 us a security about our future because there is no condemnation. 0:20:28.580 --> 0:20:33.890 Number four, it means my personal acceptance is not earned. 0:20:34.820 --> 0:20:38.690 Only if you're condemned do you have to earn a place, 0:20:38.810 --> 0:20:43.129 pay off a debt, get rid of a penalty, pay 0:20:43.130 --> 0:20:46.669 that $100 fine, or if not, that fine gets bigger 0:20:46.970 --> 0:20:50.960 and you find a boot on your car. My personal 0:20:50.960 --> 0:20:56.899 acceptance before God is assured it's there. It's complete based 0:20:56.900 --> 0:21:00.390 on what someone has done for me, not what I 0:21:00.390 --> 0:21:06.869 have done myself. There is therefore in Christ Jesus no condemnation. 0:21:06.869 --> 0:21:11.130 So I am fully accepted before the father. And number 0:21:11.130 --> 0:21:16.200 five and lastly, my access to God is not limited 0:21:16.200 --> 0:21:21.660 because there is no condemnation to separate me from the 0:21:21.660 --> 0:21:25.710 God Almighty who listens to me and loves me and 0:21:25.710 --> 0:21:33.000 hears me. There is therefore no condemnation through Christ Jesus. 0:21:33.000 --> 0:21:36.060 The law of the spirit who gives life has set 0:21:36.060 --> 0:21:40.050 you free from the law of sin and death, because 0:21:40.050 --> 0:21:42.270 you are therefore no condemnation to those that are in 0:21:42.270 --> 0:21:46.800 Christ Jesus. That no condemnation is a result of the 0:21:46.800 --> 0:21:50.040 fact that you were condemned by the law of sin 0:21:50.040 --> 0:21:53.970 and death. But the law of the spirit has overcome 0:21:53.970 --> 0:21:57.359 the law of sin and death. There's not a person 0:21:57.359 --> 0:22:01.189 in this auditorium that hasn't sinned. In fact, your sin 0:22:01.190 --> 0:22:05.840 condemns you before God and my sin condemns me before God. 0:22:06.380 --> 0:22:10.220 The Bible says that death into the world because of sin. 0:22:10.310 --> 0:22:14.090 If you sin, you die. That's why all of us die. 0:22:14.600 --> 0:22:17.929 But that's also why death could not keep Jesus in 0:22:17.930 --> 0:22:22.970 the grave. Because Jesus did not sin. Therefore, death had 0:22:22.970 --> 0:22:26.479 no power over him. And the law of sin and 0:22:26.480 --> 0:22:29.420 death demands that if you sin, you die. The law 0:22:29.420 --> 0:22:33.230 of sin and death demands a payment. If we sin, 0:22:33.260 --> 0:22:38.660 we die. We're under that law. But the Apostle Paul says, 0:22:38.660 --> 0:22:43.160 In Christ Jesus there is another law that has set 0:22:43.160 --> 0:22:46.760 you free from the law of sin and death. And 0:22:46.760 --> 0:22:50.180 it's the law of the spirit that sets us free 0:22:50.180 --> 0:22:52.760 from the first law that condemns us. 0:22:57.920 --> 0:23:00.420 And we'll continue with part two of this message from 0:23:00.420 --> 0:23:04.770 Mark Jobe titled No Condemnation When we Return Tomorrow. You're 0:23:04.770 --> 0:23:06.690 listening to Bold Steps, and if you'd like to learn 0:23:06.690 --> 0:23:10.200 more about our ministry, just visit our website. Bold steps. Org. 0:23:10.200 --> 0:23:12.240 While you're there, be sure to also check out some 0:23:12.240 --> 0:23:15.870 of the other faith building opportunities and resources available, including 0:23:15.869 --> 0:23:18.449 this month's edition of our Bold Step Gift. It's a 0:23:18.450 --> 0:23:21.689 relevant book that really speaks to the times we're living in. 0:23:21.869 --> 0:23:24.300 Let's talk about this. Are you feeling the impact of 0:23:24.300 --> 0:23:28.260 massive cultural social changes around us with so much turbulence 0:23:28.260 --> 0:23:31.169 and chaos in the modern age, many Christians are wondering 0:23:31.170 --> 0:23:35.070 how to maintain steady faith in such unstable times. If 0:23:35.070 --> 0:23:37.530 that's you, you'll want to get your hands on this book. 0:23:37.560 --> 0:23:41.399 A Non-anxious presence through the book, Mark Sayers helps us 0:23:41.430 --> 0:23:44.760 see our current moment through God's eyes rather than being 0:23:44.760 --> 0:23:48.300 paralyzed by uncertainty. You'll learn how times of disruption can 0:23:48.300 --> 0:23:52.950 actually become catalysts for spiritual breakthrough. The truth is, God 0:23:52.980 --> 0:23:55.770 often does his most significant work in seasons that feel 0:23:55.770 --> 0:23:59.300 the most unsettling. And right now, he may be opening 0:23:59.300 --> 0:24:03.500 unprecedented doors for Kingdom Impact in your community. Don't let 0:24:03.530 --> 0:24:07.460 anxiety about change hold you back. Discover how to recognize 0:24:07.460 --> 0:24:10.220 and participate in what God is doing by requesting a 0:24:10.250 --> 0:24:13.609 non-anxious presence. We'll send you a copy with your gift 0:24:13.609 --> 0:24:18.890 of any amount. To support bold steps, just call 800. D.L. Moody. Again, 0:24:18.920 --> 0:24:25.130 that's (800) 356-6639 or donate online and request the book when 0:24:25.130 --> 0:24:28.220 you go to bold steps. Org or maybe it's easier 0:24:28.220 --> 0:24:30.889 to send your gift in the mail. Our address is bold. 0:24:30.890 --> 0:24:37.430 Steps 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. 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And did you know that you can also 0:25:08.050 --> 0:25:11.290 find videos of Marx teachings even more bold steps content 0:25:11.290 --> 0:25:14.440 on our Bold Steps app. There you'll find videos that 0:25:14.440 --> 0:25:16.990 speak to relevant topics and issues in your daily life, 0:25:16.990 --> 0:25:20.859 along with bonus behind the scenes content from Mark, even 0:25:20.859 --> 0:25:23.470 a convenient Bible feature to use as you explore other 0:25:23.470 --> 0:25:26.800 faith building resources. Open up your favorite app store today 0:25:26.800 --> 0:25:30.700 and download this for free! I'm Wayne Shepherd. That brings 0:25:30.700 --> 0:25:32.500 us to the end of our program for now, but 0:25:32.500 --> 0:25:35.020 be sure to come back tomorrow when Mark continues with 0:25:35.020 --> 0:25:39.460 part two of today's message titled No Condemnation, we're discovering 0:25:39.460 --> 0:25:42.370 how the law of the spirit sets us free. Friday 0:25:42.400 --> 0:25:46.780 on Bold Steps with Mark John. Bold Steps is a 0:25:46.780 --> 0:25:50.560 production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.